Open the beaches to everyone…with buses

Massachusetts has one of the most restricted coast lines in America. Here’s how creative use of public transit could change that. | The Boston Globe

 

Taking the High Road

How a new path through the Berkshires brings the “walking holiday” to America, while expanding community access to trails | Lonely Planet

 

A notch-by-notch guide to the White Mountains

Get to know New Hampshire’s White Mountains, from the gustiest peaks to the craggiest valleys and hidden waterfalls. | Boston Magazine

 

Boston’s hidden world of urban trails

Discover nine beautiful urban hikes across Boston that show how you can go for a terrific hike in the middle of a major city. | Boston Magazine

 

New England Road Trip Deep Cuts

Following the release of my latest book, Moon New England Road Trip, I’ve been writing a series of recurring road trip itineraries. | Boston Magazine

 

Why I founded the Walking City Trail

A reflective essay about how and why I designed a 25-mile hiking trail across Boston’s parks and urban wilds. | WBUR

 

Set the underground rivers free

Why American cities are digging up and “daylighting” their subterranean waterways. | The Boston Globe

 

Walking Olmsted’s revolutionary crown jewel

How Frederick Law Olmsted’s Emerald Necklace shaped our conception of what shared green spaces can do for cities. | National Geographic

 

The strange beauty of Mud Season hiking

Mud Season is a messy rejuvenation of the natural world. It also poses some unique dangers to hikers. | National Geographic

 

A journey into California’s waterfall capital

The quiet Shasta-Cascade region of Northern California has a fiery volcanic history and an abundance of ethereal waterfalls. | National Geographic

 

Tragedies in the “deadliest” National Parks

The most common mechanisms of death in America’s National Parks are often subtler and more insidious than visitors expect. | Washington Post

 

Snowshoeing through the apocalypse

In the midst of the pandemic, hours before the storming of the U.S. Capitol, I went snowshoeing in far northern New Hampshire. | Washington Post

 

How will state parks survive 2020?

Natural disasters, budget austerity, and the COVID-19 pandemic are hurting America’s affordable and accessible state parks. | National Geographic

 

A grueling year for search-and-rescue crews

As hiking soared in popularity across America, mid-pandemic, several mountainous regions saw more accidents and deaths. | AMC Outdoors

 

Social distancing in the Great North Woods

Most travelers never venture to the northern edge of New Hampshire, which lends these highlands sublime quietude. | Boston Magazine

 

How to scout a safe bathroom, mid-pandemic

Camping or hosteling during the pandemic? Nature calling? The safest public restroom options might surprise you. | Washington Post

 

Closing parks is pandemic safety theater

Shutting down parks won’t slow the spread of COVID-19. But it will hurt the communities that have been most impacted by the virus. | WBUR

 

COVID-19 raises the stakes for rescue crews

As more hikers venture into the outdoors, search-and-rescue volunteers are bracing for new challenges and hazards. | Washington Post

 

“Stay low” with easier yet enchanting hikes

Save the riskier hikes for after the pandemic and enjoy the splendor of the White Mountains with these gentler, unsung hikes. | The Boston Globe

 

Is it ethical to go hiking during a pandemic?

As trails open back up for summer, should hikers hit the road for far-flung mountains or stick closer to their respective locales? | National Geographic

 

Hiking Etiquette 101: Pandemic Edition

The outdoors is a great place for exercising and exploring, mid-pandemic, but it’s important to be cool to fellow hikers. You’re in this together. | VICE

 

Chasing waterfalls during the spring thaw

Waterfalls are at their most thunderous during spring, as snowmelt causes New England’s rivers and reservoirs to overflow. | Boston Magazine

 

After Hurricane Dorian, a glimpse of Ecofascism

The Trump administration’s treatment of refugees is an example of how Ecofascism could afflict climate change policy in the future. | WBUR

 

The surprising solidarity of going hiking

Often thought of as a sport of rugged individualism, hiking is ultimately built on a kind of community that manifests outdoors. | WBUR

 

Elizabeth Warren’s populist public lands plan

The presidential contender’s plan to open up more public lands for public recreation and use would be a boon for outdoor equity. | NBC News

 

New Hampshire’s “secret” tallest waterfall

The biggest waterfall in the Granite State is a seasonal wonder that only appears a few times each year. So I went looking for it. | The Boston Globe

 

In the heat of the moment, you can get very sick

While visiting Baxter State Park in summer, I experienced clinical heat exhaustion and lived to tell the tale. It wasn’t pretty. | The Boston Globe

 

Exile to Lonesome Lake Hut

Quitting a newspaper job to become a backcountry lodge caretaker is the sort of thing that most people would consider insane. | The Boston Phoenix